A/N: I do not own La Corda. If I did... I still won't though... So, I should stop dreaming.. *sigh*
Oh, and by the way, I'm making this story as I go. So, please bear with me. I need to get my writer's block unleashed or I will be having this huge block on my head for a year. Hahaha!
*sigh* I'm having so much fun looking at myself in the mirror, I feel like I'm starting to emulate Azuma's personality. Hahahaha!
I want to thank the following people, for making me their favorite author, for making this their favorite story, for the story alerts, and author alerts and the reviews!. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
** ozzyfan97
** LacusClyne26 - hahaha.. is the suspense killing you? I hope not.. the next chapters would definitely answer some things that I wish I could answer for myself! hahahaha!
** CrimsonQueen24
** AND FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO JUST READ THIS BUT DIDN"T ADD NOR REVIEWED ME, STILL, MANY THANKS! ^_^ I can feel your presence.. :)
P.S, don't be scared of my 7th sense... just kidding! :)
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Chapter 2: Masks and Lies
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Azuma massaged his temples as he sipped his tea.
It had been a long weekend, he thought to himself. He could feel a faint headache emerging from the depths and he didn't like it.
His usually smiling face now had an ugly frown on it.
Kaji Aoi.
Just the name makes his head throb painfully. It was a name he came to associate with many ugly things.
He grimaced as he recalled the fiasco that happened in the museum.
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FLASHBACK
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"Aoi – kun!" Kahoko called brightly to the tall and handsome blonde-haired man explaining to a group of kids who seemed to be on a museum tour.
At the sound of his name, Kaji turned around and gave one of the brightest smiles and met Kahoko halfway.
Azuma noticed the frown on both Len and Ryotaro. Kazuki on the other hand gave Kaji a good thump on the back as he joined them.
"Hello!" Kaji cheerily greeted them as the kids he was touring ogled Azuma, Kazuki, Len and Ryotaro.
"Wow! He's tall!"
"Look! Such pretty hair! Kawaii!"
Some of the kinds crowded around Azuma and he heard Kaji gave a chuckle.
"Seemed to take on you eih, Yunoki – senpai?" Azuma could not mistake the sarcastic meaning behind Kaji's comment, so he gave a smile and said, "Why of course!"
Len glowered at the kids while Ryotaro and Kazuki went down and talked to them.
"What are you doing out here with these kids, Aoi – kun?" Kahoko smiled as one of the girls reached up to her and she carried her.
"Merely doing some hospital help, Kaho – chan!" Kaji once more bestowed one of his dazzlingly bright smile, making Azuma flinch and Len to scowl even more.
"That's so sweet of you, Aoi – kun!" Kahoko looked approvingly at him as Azuma felt one of the little girls reach for his long hair.
"Mister, can I touch your hair? They look so smooth!" the girl chirped.
He was about to give the girl one of his nasty glare when Kahoko looked at the little girl and gave her a nudge.
"You sure are right! Its really smooth." Kaji smiled kindly at the little girl before giving Yunoki a knowing smirk.
How I want to wipe that smile of your face! Azuma still plastered that fake smile on his face.
"Kids, let's go to the dinosaur section!" Kaji clapped his hands, claiming all of the kids attention while gaining approving nods from the passing elderly people.
"He's so sweet!" Kahoko murmured to herself, but Azuma caught it, making him want to strangle Kaji even more.
"Let's go join them, shall we!" Kahoko brightly turned her face to her companions. Not noticing the frown on Len's face; the sudden sadness on Ryotaro's face.
"That would be wonderful!" Kaji couldn't have been more pleased.
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END OF FLASHBACK
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Miyabe knocked on Azuma's door softly.
She hadn't seen her brother since he arrived yesterday from the museum. She hadn't seen him during breakfast either. Their maid said that Azuma wasn't feeling well and requested his breakfast to be sent to his room.
I wonder what's wrong? Miyabe frowned.
Hearing a soft mumble of "enter" from his brother inside, Miyabe scowled at how dark her brother's room was. It took her a while to get used to the darkness and as soon as it did, it focused on Azuma who was sitting on one of the soft armchairs on his room; sipping tea while massaging his head.
"What's up, onii-san?" Miyabe strode towards her brother, taking the seat opposite him.
"Nothing." Azuma replied cheerfully, but wincing deep down.
"You've always been so secretive, onii-san!" Miyabe wailed, pouting her lips childishly.
"Don't worry too much about me, Miyabe - chan. I'm okay." Azuma gave a serene smile down at his sister.
"Miyabe!" a loud voice shouted.
"Crap! Gotta go!" Miyabe pushed her chair and ran for the door.
Sighing, Azuma leaned back.
"I thought you said Aoi wasn't coming!" Len's clipped voice rang on Azuma's ear.
I never thought it'll be like this!
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Kazuki kept on smiling as his pace quickened. I have a date today!
He kept hummed as he nearly jogged towards the park. As he neared the place, his heart started beating even more quickly.
As soon as he reached the bend to where his date was waiting, he was about to shout her name when he saw her with a familiar cerulean haired man.
"Ah! Hihara - senpai!" Kahoko smiled cheerfully as a scowl painted on Len's face.
"Len wants to join us too on our little taste test today! Isn't that exciting!"
The smile on Kazuki's face soon disappeared.
No!
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Ryotaro kept on checking his phone every minute, as if expecting a telephone call.
Where the heck are you? he cursed mentally as he remembered the ruined 'date' he was supposed to have with Kahoko. He was completely blown away when they entered the museum and saw a familiar lilac hair, lime hair standing on its end, and the artic ice cerulean one's.
Not to mention the sudden appearance of that flirt - Kaji who keeps on dancing attendance to Kahoko.
He wanted to pummel Kaji's face, but as a gentleman, he declined the temptation to do saw as he watched the golden haired man make Kahoko blush with every intense gaze he gave Kahoko. He contented himself nevertheless in pummeling him instead in his thoughts.
The thing that was bothering Ryotaro was how his senpai, Azuma, found out about his date with Kahoko. He already ruled out both Kazuki and Len for the purpose that Kazuki wasn't the suspicious type and he can't imagine the self-absorbed "prodigy" (note the "-") going to such lengths to monitor his behavior. No, it was likely to be that long-haired egotistically annoying senpai of his who keeps on pretending to be best of friends to the happy-go-lucky Kazuki.
At least now I know who the bad egg is! Ryotaro smiled happily to himself.
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Yukito wandered around the house, hoping to catch Kahoko in case she was in one of her moods to play hide-and-seek again with him
Bathroom? No.
Room? No.
My room? Ah.. No again.
Kitchen? No. Though I thought I'd catch her inside the refrigerator eating that cake Mom brought home with her yesterday.
Garden? Nah-ah!
Living Room? Just started from there. I think she won't fit under the sofa this time. With that big body of her's. Haha!
"Hmmm..." Yukito swiveled his head left and right as he tried to search for Kahoko, but instead caught sight of a pink stick-on note plastered on the marble kitchen counter.
Yuki,
I'll be out with some friend today. We're going taste-testing at the pastry shops. Call me if you want me to take home some for you!
KahoXXX
Sighing, Yukito slumped on the soft pillows on the sofa.
Cellphone, why didn't I think of you? and proceeded to call his sister.
"Kaho?"
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Of course she wasn't answering her phone! Damn that girl! a man with mahogany brown-hair threw his phone the bed, cursing as he stood at the nearby window.
"Of all the freaking, crazy people!" he muttered angrily under his breath.
"Maître, votre père demandé vous." a man with graying hair spoke in French as he opened the door hesitantly, aware of the young man's famous tantrums.
("Master, your father asked for you")
"Ce qui il veut maintenant ? !" frowning as he answered back in French, he shot him a glare before returning to the window.
("What does he want now?")
"Votre père a demandé si vous viendriez à l'étude. Il souhaite discuter quelque chose avec vous." the man attempted to appear dignified but failed.
(Your father asked if you would come to the study. He wishes to discuss something with you.)
"Il nécessite une autre proposition pour que je change ma carrière tandis qu'I' ; m dehors et environ ? Ou n'a-t-il pas élaboré une fois de plus pour me tenter dans venir à lui ?" he sarcastically retorted, knowing how his father likes his silly little games, making him act like his puppet instead of his own son.
("Does it entail another proposition for me to change my career while I'm out and about? Or did he not elaborate once more to tempt me into coming to him?")
"Errez…." the butler looked mollified as he thought out that the master's father has indeed forgotten to tell him about the matter.
("Err...")
Cursing once more, the man strode towards the door and left the bewildered butler at his wake, scratching his head as he did so.
"What do you want from me, you old man!" shouting loudly meters before he reached the study room's handsome oak doors, he could hear the light chuckle inside as if making fun of him.
Opening the doors with a bang, he glowered at the older man sitting comfortably in the huge winged lion armchair.
"Why, a pleasant day to you my dear son." his father mocked him from behind the ornately decorated table, holding a bloody red wine in his left while looking at his son speculatively.
"I asked you a question didn't I?" he retorted back, matching his father's arrogance with his own.
"I know." his father simply answered.
"Then be done with it!" he glared even more, knowing his father, he always has something under his sleeve.
Especially since I did it! he chortled to himself as he recalled the embarrassing situation he placed his "dear" father in weeks ago.
Smiling oddly at his son, "I had a talk with HER, she's agreed to have you over. You'll be spending 6 months with them."
Lost in words, the younger man stood there like a frozen statue as his father's smile widened even more.
"I heard she's into Journalism." and dismissed his son.
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"WHAAA! WHY DID I EVEN AGREE TO THAT MAN!" Amou Nami screamed at the top of her lungs as she wailed in despair at her predicament.
"He did ask nicely..." her mother giggled as she watched her only daughter pacing around the house, cleaning it.
"But tomorrow?" Amou finally sank in the nearest chair and clutched her chest scarily.
"Don't be like that, he might have changed a lot since the two of you have last seen each other..." her mother patted her head kindly.
"More like SCRATCHED each other." Amou looked weirdly up at her mother.
Laughing, Amou's mother tottered off.
"I cleaned his room by the way. He'll be next to you."
"NOOOOO!"
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"That hungry monster!" Kahoko muttered darkly as she carried one of the many boxes she bought from all the pastry shop she, along with Kazuki and Len tasted.
"Its okay, Kaho - chan! We don't mind one single bit!" Kazuki smiled cheerfully at his kouhai as he too carried 3 boxes of pastries while Len had 2.
"Gomen Hihara -senpai. Tsukimori - kun." Kahoko bowed low.
Sighing, Len nodded as they continued their walk to Kahoko's house.
"I haven't met your brother, Kaho - chan. What's he like?" Kazuki asked thoughtfully, imagining a male version of Kahoko.
"Anou -..." Kahoko scratched her head with her free hand.
"He's got red hair like mine..."
WOW! SO cute! Kazuki flushed pink.
"And his eyes are reddish gold..."
Whow!
"And his hair is like Aoi - kun's haircut..."
"And probably 6 inches taller than Aoi - kun too!" Kahoko paused.
Suddenly, a vision of Kaji with scarlet hair and reddish gold eyes swam in front of Len and Kazuki head. Followed by marching Kahoko's.
"SOOO CUUTTTEE!" Kazuki suddenly burst out, but stopped too as red tainted his cheeks.
"I didn't know you liked Aoi - kun, Hihara - senpai..." Len cracked a grimace which was supposed to be a smile, making Kahoko burst out with laughter.
"KAHOKO!" a loud voice hollered not far away.
"Onii - san!" Kahoko shouted back and started jogging towards her brother, but was too far away for Kazuki and Len to get a good look at.
Both walking much quickly, Len and Kazuki wanted to get a good look at Kahoko's brother.
"Ah! Sorry about that!" Yukito apologized as Kahoko gingerly took the parcels of pastry her brother asked for from Kazuki and Len.
"No biggie!" Kazuki smiled sheepishly as he watched Yukito's towering figure in front of them.
"You must be the the 'friends' Kaho - chan here mentioned. But I believe she wrote 'some friend' here." Yukito frowned as he deposited the parcels over the kitchen counter top where the letter also lay.
Ushering both Len and Kazuki to sit down, Kahoko handed them drinks before rounding on her brother.
"I can make mistakes, can't I?" Kahoko pouted.
"And that's why I love you!" Yukito strode towards Kahoko and gave her a kiss on the forehead, making her blush crimson while the two boys gaped at what they saw.
"Anou -..." Kazuki looked at the siblings, unable to get his tongue untied.
"Gomen~!" Yukito apologized as he grinned at Kazuki and Len.
"I haven't seen Kaho - chan here for a while. I missed her so much.." he looked at Kahoko fondly.
"Onii - san!" Kahoko stuck out her tongue as she pulled herself away.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
*ding dong*
"See who it is won't you, Kaho - chan?" Yukito pushed her gently, grinning mysteriously at her.
"I will, I will!" Kahoko stuck out her tongue once more to her brother, blushing as she caught both Len and Kazuki's eyes on her.
Len sporting an amused face while Kazuki was grinning.
*ding dong*
*ding dong*
*ding dong*
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Kahoko called out as she left the living room, hurrying as she reached the front doors.
"Seesh! Can't even wait! Keeps on ringing the doorbell!" they heard Kahoko mumble as she left.
"Ohayou!" they heard Kahoko greet the visitor before stopping suddenly.
"What are YOU doing here?" they heard her squeal with utter disbelief.
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Stabbing forkfuls of meat to her plate, Kahoko kept muttering to herself darkly.
"Girlfriend she says!"
"As if I'll buy that crap!"
"She just wants to get back at me for all those things that happened back then!"
"I never thought she'd sink as low as that!"
"Who is SHE to say that she's Yuki's girlfriend!"
"Er, Hino - san?" Ryoutaro called her, looking weirdly down at her during lunch time.
"And then, the NERVE to call mom okaa - san!"
"Kaho - chan?" Kazuki asked helpfully, giving Ryoutaro an unsure glance before prodding Kahoko on the back, making her jump in surprise.
"Hihara - senpai!" Kahoko blinked once and twice before blushing in realization.
"What are you mumbling about over there anyway?" Ryoutaro asked, waving his chopsticks in the air.
"Eih? Nothing!" Kahoko shook her head, hiding her blushing face under the pretense of eating her food.
"Never were a good liar, Hino - san." Ryoutaro grinned as he watched Kahoko bypass red and turn crimson.
"Is it about her?" Kazuki asked, careful not to appear too nosy about the subject.
"Hn.." Kahoko mumbled.
"Seesh, Hino - san.." Ryoutaro laughed as Kahoko seemed to produce steams of embarrasment.
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You were my sun
You were my earth
But you didn't know all the ways I loved you, no
So you took a chance
And made other plans
But I bet you didn't think that they would come crashing down, no
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He looked down at the picture of a beautiful girl smiling up at him, her curly lavender hair framing her beautiful face, making her even more impossibly beautiful.
"Oh you'll be paying back everything you took from me.." he murmured dangerously as he ripped her photo in two, and then throwing it in the fire. Watching as the fire swallowed her beautiful face unto its fiery depths.
"You'll definitely pay for leaving me.." he grinned as he smoothed back a misplaced ashen-colored lock of his hair.
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You don't have to say, what you did,
I already know, I found out from him
Now there's just no chance, for you and me, there'll never be
And don't it make you sad about it
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"Must do-" Kahoko mumbled while sleeping, twisting uncomfortably in bed.
"Can't let it-" she frowned, sweating as she twisted once more, entangling herself on the blanket.
"Seesh, Kaho - chan.. Can't even sleep properly when she's around.." Yukito opened Kahoko's door a crack, watching his sister mumble on her sleep once more.
"Can't see-" Kahoko waved her two hands in the air, as if waving something away in front of her.
Yukito opened Kahoko's door wider, suddenly halting into a stop when she murmured something else.
"Yuki - onii - san... Koi... Len..."
His eyes growing wide, he watched Kahoko hug her pillow tighly.
"Kaho-ko?"
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okay, okay, that was a bit short (in sense of the texture of the story),
I mean, I left a lot of puzzles in the story which I know for a fact that I'd have to undo on my own too! *sigh* Such a bummer.. And here I thought I'd be able to get a weekend rest.. So, for all of those LenxKaho fans out other, I hope you'll like the next few chapters I'll be updating.. I can see for now that I will be in a complicated situation because of this story.. *sigh* nevertheless, I'll be updating soon because I feel discontented with what I have written down.
I'm sorry but I won't be writing a sneak peek for the next chapter since I WILL be updating in maybe 2 weeks time? What's the point in spoiling my fun, right? eih eih! hihihi.. :)
Oh crap! I can't resist! Okay, here's a sneak preview... Just this LITTLE!
The Heart that Stopped Beating
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."Its so complicated.." Kahoko mumbles to him, tearing her eyes away from him.
"Why? Don't you see what's in front of you?" he can't help but avoid the pleading in his voice.
"You left for such a long time.. And now you're here, its not making my decision any easier..."
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